Iranian university students join protests over soaring cost of living
Here’s a summary of the key information from the Sky News article:
* Protests in Iran: Protests are occurring in Iran,particularly in the capital Tehran,driven by economic hardship.
* Economic Crisis: The Iranian rial has lost nearly half its value against the US dollar in 2025, with high inflation (42.5% in December) and significant food price increases (up to 72%). US sanctions and threats from Israeli strikes are contributing factors.
* Ancient Reference: Protesters are chanting “rest in peace Reza Shah,” referencing the founder of the dynasty overthrown in the 1979 revolution - a symbolic act of dissent.
* Government Response: The Iranian government has acknowledged the protests as legitimate and is setting up a dialog mechanism, including talks with protest leaders, to address the “pressure on people’s livelihoods.” President Pezeshkian has asked the interior minister to listen to protesters’ demands.
* Recent Context: These protests are the first major ones since the Israeli and US strikes on Iran in June, which initially sparked patriotic unity.
* Locations: Protests have been reported at four universities in Tehran and in central tehran.